PZ Cussons is investing at least Sh35 million over three months to expand its local market share for its flagship Imperial Leather brand in Kenya. The company has launched a consumer promotion campaign and brand influencer to boost brand visibility, sales, and reward loyal customers. The move is aimed at tapping into the growth in purchasing power in counties outside major cities, as many Kenyans are facing challenges due to high living costs and cost consciousness. The company is confident of local growth opportunities and is increasingly adopting a ‘challenger’ mindset, focusing on data and artificial intelligence to inform its business and marketing programs. The company is targeting millennials, Gen Z, and Gen-Alphas, with 40% of purchases made by Gen Zs demanding clear brand values and sustainability. By the end of 2024, Imperial leather will have doubled in value since 2020.
The Premier Peak Foundation has established a ‘Safe House’ in Kangema Sub-County, Murang’a, to provide shelter and support to victims of gender-based violence (GBV). The ‘Premier Hope Centre’, a haven house commissioned by the Foundation, will accommodate 30 women at a time. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reported that 54% of Murang’a women aged 49 years and below have experienced physical violence, while 22% have experienced sexual violence. The Centre will offer social, emotional, and psychological support to women who have been subjected to domestic violence and GBV. Victims will receive psychological support, training on income-generating activities, and technical skills such as farming dry-land arrowroots and basket-making. The Foundation will also conduct sensitization forums at the grassroots to urge women to seek help when in abusive situations. The Foundation has appealed to both National and County governments to consider partnering with private rescue centres to reach out to more victims. The Premier Peak Foundation called on the church to play a preventive role by enhancing counselling for both women and men to foster stable homes.
Nyeri County has a total of 52,453 candidates from eight sub-counties preparing for this year’s national exams. Of these, 15,857 will be sitting for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and 16,740 will be writing the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). The latter will comprise the last batch of candidates to sit for the KCPE under the 8-4-4 education system, which is being replaced by the 2-6-3-3-3 model. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE) theory papers will start on November 6th. The Ministry of Education has partnered with National Government Administrative Officers, National Police Service personnel, and the Teachers Service Commission to facilitate the smooth administration of the exams. Both KCPE candidates and their KPSEA counterparts will have their rehearsals tomorrow before their papers begin next week. The county has also supplied a container as a distribution point for the exams.
Ministry of Information, Communications, and Digital Economy is focusing on harnessing technology for better livelihoods and living standards. Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo announced that the government is providing physical technological infrastructure and inclusive connectivity and has partnered with technological companies and the private sector to produce local smart-enabled telephones at a unit cost of about Sh6,000. The ministry is also rolling out 100,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure, 25,000 public WIFI hotspots, and 1450 village digital hubs to spur e-commerce, creativity, and the digital economy. The government is also training youth in digital technology and finding well-paying, digitally enabled jobs. The ICT landscape in Kenya is evolving rapidly, with technology playing an indispensable role in the country’s progress. The government must remain at the forefront of innovation as technology permeates all aspects of life, work, and play. By the end of the year, all government services will be boarded on the E-citizen platform, and a mechanism for authenticating people’s identities will be in place for easy access to government services from home.
Over 700 students in Laikipia County have received a Sh. 4 million bursary from Carbon Credits money earned by local conservation groups. The bursary will benefit 642 secondary school students and 72 others at various colleges and universities. The remaining 40% of the funds will be used for rangeland management and environmental conservation. The Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) praised the management of beneficiary conservancies for their accountability and the benefits of improved livelihoods. The bursaries will also help cushion residents in school fee payments, as many pastoralists have lost livestock due to drought. Carbon credits are permits that represent 1 tonne of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere and are generated from projects that reduce, avoid, or destroy one metric tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has scheduled a week for lawyers to provide free legal services to address prison overcrowding and ensure access to legal services and representation for inmates. The initiative aims to make the justice system more equitable by promoting selflessness and dedication to justice ideals. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) highlighted the importance of the 21st-century prosecutor in addressing societal issues and implementing crime prevention solutions through community engagement. The prison population in Kenya is estimated at 58,897 in 134 facilities, with a maximum holding capacity of 34,000 people. LSK President Eric Theuri emphasised the need for a fair system, breaking the cycle of reoffending, and turning prisons into criminal academies. The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA KENYA) Chairperson, Nancy Ikinu, emphasised the need for prison facilities to adhere to the nine thematic areas in the United Nations Standard for minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, particularly focusing on providing necessary healthcare services to prisoners free of charge without discrimination.